Display and index rack



Dec. 23, 1930. E. A. SUTCLIFFE ,9

DISPLAY AND INDEX RACK Filed April 22. 1929 .2 S haets-Sheet 1 j 3& 20 Q V, w m m Imam Eda 132A. 5mm

Dec. 23, 1930. E. A. SUTCLIFFE 1,785,933

DISPLAY AND INDEX RACK Filed Apri 1' 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @155" III/I117 III/m Jimm- Ea MhA.Wfe

Patented Dec. 23, 1930 F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN A. SUTCLIFFE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR MANUFACTURI- ING & GASKET 00., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DISPLAY AND INDEX RACK Application filed. April 22,

displaying gaskets, felt washers and the like. M

It is the policy of various manufacturers of felt washers, gaskets and the like, to display their goods on relatively large cumbersome boards, which boards are usually mounted on a wall. Very often, especially when used to display felt washers for automobiles, these display boards are necessarily of considerable size due to the numerous makes and various models of automobiles, and therefore a large portion of wall space is occupied thereby. Dealers in these articles are often required to match up old washers with washers on their display racks to ascertain the size thereof, therefore, it is essential that the display board be located where ready access may be had thereto. To mount a large displayboard, such as described above, within easy access of the dealer, means the loss of shelf space which is usually very scarce in most automobile. accessory stores or garages, as only a small percentage of their quarters can be given over to supplies.

To overcome the objectionable features of the old style wall boards or racks various types of counter display racks have been devised, none of which, however, until the development of the present invention, have satisfactorily displayed the goods mounted thereon in the most desirable manner, therefore it is one of the prime objects of this invention to provide an improved counter or wall display and index rack capable of displaying a large quantity of articles without requiring an exceedingly large amount of counter or wall space.

Another object of the present invention resides in the, provision of a novel display and index rack having a plurality of index cards mounted thereon in such amanner as to afford the goods securedthereto readily accessible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a display and indexv rack having goods mounted onone or both sides of a phi-- rality of index cards, thereby reducing the 1929. Serial No. 357,171.

amount of space required to display a predetermined member of articles.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel display and index rack capable of beingreadily assembledor dissembled to permit insertion or removal of index cards with the least possible inconvenience.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a display and index rack capable of being independently set on a support or being mounted upon a wall or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display and index rack of the character to be described wherein the articles displayed may be listed and arranged thereon in alphabetical or numerical order to facilitate identification thereof.

These and such other objects of the present invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved counter and wall display and index rack. V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the guide rod showing a fragment of an index card mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the display and index rack shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental elevational View of the back board, showing a portion of the guide bar mounted in one of the sockets thereon.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the sockets, as taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is aplan view of the socket, taken on line 6,6. of Fig. 42. i

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig, 5 but showing a modified form of mounting means for the guiderod. V

Fig. 8 is a plan view of, a portion of the guide rod, showing a modified form thereof.

The invention, in; general, relates to an improved display and index rack applicable for use in displaying a large variety ofrela tively small articles, such as felt washers, gaskets or hardware, to the public. It is preferable that each article mounted thereon be numbered or otherwise marked to correspond with the stock number or mark of like articles in the stock room. The various articles displayed on the improved rack are preferably also arranged alphabetically or numerically so that the contents of each index card may be readily ascertained at a glance and access had thereto by the sliding of the index *ards on the guide bar upon which they are mounted.

While this improved display and in deX rack is applicable to serve effectively and efficiently in displaying numerous lines of goods it has been designed primarily for displaying felt washers or sma l gaskets for automobiles. As there are numerous makes and models of automobiles, it is necessary for dealers in accessories and repairs to carry a large assortment of these felt washers which are used for packing various parts of the running gear thereof.

As mentioned previously, it is the custom of washer manufacturers to provide their dealers with large wall boards upon which the various types of washers are arranged in a semi-orderly manner and when, the dealer desires to replace a washer in an automobile he is forced to match the old washer with those on the board until the proper size was located, note the number thereof and go to the stock room and obtain a new one from the lot designated by said number or mark.

In the present instance, as shown in the drawings, the washers are arranged on index cards, each card containing washers for one or two automobiles, and said index cards are each marked with the name of the particular automobile for which. the washers thereon are adapted and arranged alphabetically on a suitable guide bar. Vith an arrangement of this sort it can readily be seen that one need only to select the proper index ea rd and match an old washer with those on that card, to locate a washer for a particular automobile, thus saving a considerable amount of time and effort. This system of displaying and indexing the various sizes of wa sh-ers provides for a more compact display unit thereby affording a considerable saving in wall space, should the rack be secured thereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail. it will be noted that the improved display and in dex rack is pro *ided with a base 11. which is preferably formed of a substantially rectaugula sheet of metal of such size to permit the setting of said rack on a counter or the like if desirable. Extending upwardly from the base 11 and along the rear edge thereof is a back board 12, also of sheet metal having its vertical edges bent rearwardly to form reinforcing flanges 13, said back board 12 being rigidly secured to said base in any desired manner, such as is shown, by the angle bar 14. Near the upper edge of the back board 12 and spaced apart and at equal distances from the vertical edges thereof are a pair of apertures, or key-hole slots, 15 which provide means for mounting the entire assembly on a wall if so desired.

A guide rod or track 16 upon which display and index cards 17 are to be slidingly mounted, is detachably secured to the back wall 12 near its upper edge, said guide rod extending forwardly therefrom preferably in a plane parallel to the base 11. It is desirable that this guide rod be formed of a solid metallic rod bent substantially U-shaped having its leg portions 18 thereof anchored to the back board. lVhen a one piece U-shaped guide rod is employed it is essential that said rod be mounted to the back board in such a manner that it may be readily detached therefrom to permit removal or insertion of ind x cards containing washers for old or new models of automobiles, respectively.

To this end it is preferable to provide a pair of sockets 19 on the front face of the back wall for receiving therein portions of the legs 18 of the guide rod. These sockets are each formed of a relatively short strap of metal bent substantially at its center to form a semicircular recess for receiving bent ends 21 of. the legs 18 when said strap is welded or otherwise secured to the back board. As shown, particularly in Fig. 3, the straps forming the sockets 19 are arranged on the back board in a horizontal plane and are spaced apart at such distance that the legs 18 of the U-shaped guide rod must be squeezed together slightly to align therewith, whereby, after the insertion of the ends thereof in said sockets, the outer face of each of said ends will be urged against the flattened side wall 22 of said sockets. This affords a frictional contact between the bent ends 21 and the sockets 19 which serves to frictionally retain the guide bar in place. However due to the amount of weight carried by the guide bar, when the index cards and washers are mounted thereon, a more positive means must be provided for insuring the retention of the bent ends 21 within the sockets.

This means is attained by the provision of a. flattened or cut away portion 23 on each outside face of the bent ends, which flattened portion will provide a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders 24 thereon. Vhen the bent ends 21 are in place within the sockets 19. the tension of the guide rod will urge the shoulders thereon to engage the top and bottom edges of the flattened portion of the socket, thus it will'be seen that toetfect removal of said guide rod from the backboard said rod must be contracted to disengage said shoulders from said edges.

The index cards 17 maybe formed of any suitable rigid material, such as'heavy cardboard, having a centrally located aperture near their upper edge for mounting on the guide rod 15. This aperture, as well as the outer edge of the index card, is preferably reinforced with thin sheet metal 26 to prolong the serviceable period thereof.

lVashers or gaskets 2'? are glued or secured in any other suitable manner to one or both sides of these index cards and each washer thereon is identified with a number, or other stock mark, 28 printed on or attached to the index card and the entire index card assembly i. e. the cards and washers thereon, is sprayed with liquid celluloid or any other transparent liquid to preserve their life and to permit cleaning thereof. This hard transparent coating is especially advantageouls when felt washers are being displayed, as these washers are subject to become frayed from constant handling.

It can readily be understood that with a structure of the above type a very compact washer or gasket display rack is provided wherein a large number of washers may be displayed, the washers for each make of automobile being grouped on individual index cards, with each washer marked to corre spend with the stock mark thereof. The index cards are also marked with the name of the particular make of car for which the washers mounted thereon are adapted and said cards are arranged alphabetically on the guide rod.

In operation, to find a washer for a certain automobile, the card bearing that name is located and those in front of it are moved around the areuate guide rod to the opposite side so as to give ready access thereto. The desired washer thereon is identified and, noting the stock number thereon, it is an easy matter to secure one from the stock room. Inasmuch as the guide rod may be readily removed from the back board, old index cards can be easily removed and new ones substituted therefor.

I11 the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, the arcuate guide rod 16 is made up of two independent sections disengagingly joined at the centre of the arch therein.

These two sections must necessarily be rigidly secured to the back board 12 and to this end the leg portions 18 thereof, are threaded as at 29, near their ends to receive nuts 31 which are disposed on either side of the back board, clamping the latter'therebetween. Washers 32 on the threaded ends 29, are provided on each side of the back board to prevent damage to same. Where the ends of the guide rod sections abut a flush joining mustbe provided to permit the index cards toslide thereover when being moved from one side of said guide rod to the other. This is effected by providing a burr or rounded end 33 on the end of one section, which burr is adapted to seat itself in a recess 34 provided therefor in the other section. The two ends will normally remain in tight engagement with each other due to the resiliency of the guide rod sections and, upon forcing said sections apart new index cards may be added or old ones removed. The general functioning of this form of the index rack is the same as that described in the foregoing.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been described in the foregoing and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that this invention is capable of embodyin various changes in construction and modification of details without departing from the spirit of the invention nor the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rack for displaying washers, COlllprising a base and a back board and having, in combination, a pair of sockets on said back board, a resilient arcuate shaped guide rod having its ends bent to form right angles, a flattened surface on one side of each of said bent ends forming a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders thereon, said shoulders abutting the top and bottom edge of their respective sockets to maintain the arcuate guide rod detachably secured therein.

2. In a rack, a back having sockets thereon arranged in spaced relation, a substantially U-shaped rod having right angularly extending end portions, said end portions being normally spaced from each other in an amount greater than the spacing of said sockets whereby when said end portions are disposed in said sockets said rod will be under tension, said right angularly extending portions having flattened sections thereon providing shoulders, said shoulders engaging the edges of said sockets when said end portions are disposed in said sockets under tension.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature at 5750 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Ill.

EDVIN A. SUTCLIFFE.

In J.

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